Technological solutions aimed at the logistics sector are not always grounded in real operational needs and can be “solutions looking for a problem”. So says business group Logistics UK as it publishes its Logistics Innovation Opportunities Map (LIOM). The roadmap challenges innovators to develop creative and technological solutions to real world problems that will have material benefits for the logistics sector and wider UK economy.
Logistics UK Acting Chief Executive Kevin Green said:
“We call our report an Innovation Opportunities Map, but we could equally call it a Treasure Map: the challenges identified represent significant financial opportunities for the developers and entrepreneurs that can solve them.”
The LIOM is designed as a resource for technology developers, infrastructure providers, investors, policymakers and logistics businesses and rather than prescribing specific solutions it identifies practical logistics problems that innovation can help solve.
Green continues:
“We want to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity that businesses thrive on to find solutions. There will be approaches that we are not aware of which is why the report does not seek to specify solutions, rather it acts as an invitation to innovators to share their wisdom.”
The LIOM captures operational challenges looking at three use cases from across logistics: long-distance and depot-to-depot trunking; urban logistics and last mile; and off-road, site-based and private-network operations.
For trunking, the roadmap identifies challenges including optimising hub location; the need for smoother multimodal transfers between vehicles and modes; managing vehicle mix, availability and maintenance; and delivering efficient return journeys and border crossings. The report identifies potential innovation opportunities in this area including tools to accelerate planning engagement; the use of robotics and containerisation; and how blockchain solutions can be applied to border data sharing and enable real-time electronic documentation.
With urban logistics, the LIOM cites challenges including identifying optimal locations for urban warehouses, competition for kerbside space and insufficient access to suitable public charging. For these areas, it highlights the potential for data-driven tools and systems such as bookable kerbside bays and shared charging infrastructure.
Off-road logistics includes private networks, yards, ports and depots and challenges identified include managing energy use across complex, multi-operator sites and providing secure, hygienic and accessible on-site facilities for drivers and staff. For this use case, the LIOM suggests potential for innovation around site energy management systems; the use of satellite and sensor data and in-yard autonomous vehicle applications.
For each challenge, the LIOM identifies whether a solution would generate a direct commercial benefit such as better asset utilisation, a public benefit such as emissions reduction or a shared benefit such as workforce retention. The report also identifies strategic insights to guide efforts to enhance the adoption of innovation in the logistics sector, and groups them into three themes: focus on foundations; system thinking; and understanding shared value and responsibility.
Green concludes:
“This map is a conversation starter – not a solution manual. The challenges identified are the challenges that the industry is facing every day, and we are inviting technology developers to explore how they can address them. Collaboration will be critical, and policymakers and regulators also have a vital role: ensuring the infrastructure, trust frameworks and incentives are in place to enable innovation to flourish. Together we can turn the insight uncovered in our report into action that increases efficiency and drives profitability and growth across the country.”
To download a copy of Logistics UK’s Logistics Innovation Opportunities Map, and to discover how organisations can get involved in supporting collaboration to drive innovation in the logistics sector, visit: Logistics Innovation Opportunities Map (https://logistics.org.uk/research-hub/reports/the-logistics-innovation-opportunities-map)
